Improvement in wheelbarrows



`1U NITED STATES PAT-ENT OEEIoEo PETER L. wEIMEE, oE LEBANON, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN WH-EELBA-RROWS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 172,807, dated January 25, '1876, application filed October 2l, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER L. WEMER, of Lebanon, in the county of Lebanon and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Barrows, of which the, following is a specification:

My invention relates to the two-wheeled iron barrcws employed in furnace service; and consists in a peculiar manner of constructing and arranging the details of the same, as hereinafter described.

Figure l represents a longitudinal central section of my barrow; Fig; 2, a' plan view of the axles and their bearings or boxes, with barrow, with their ends supported in blocksV or bearings D, which are secured to the under side of the body by stirrups E, as shown, each block forming the inner bearing of one shaft and the outer bearing of the other, as shown, the shafts being arranged in the same horizontal plane, so as to maintain the body in a proper position.

The wheels are each composed of a wrought rim, wrought spokes, and a hub cast upon the spokes after they are inserted in the rim.

In forming the wheel I arrange every alternate spoke, or all( of them if preferred, with their ends extending loosely through and beyond the rim or tire, and while they are thus arranged cast the hub upon'their inner ends.

The shrinkage of the hub as it cools simply draws the loose-ended spokes inward through the rim, neither straining nor bendingthe parts, nor aiectin g the stability of the wheel.

After the cooling of the hub the ends of the spokes are riveted or headed down, the tire being preferably cou-ntersunk, Aas shown, in

order to leave a smooth outer surface.

It is also preferred, in constructing the wheels, to thread the outer ends of the spokes, and provide them, before their insertion into `the rim, with nuts a, which may be screwed 'up against theinside of the rim after the hub' is cool, for the purpose ,of supporting the rim4 and holding 'all the parts trmly in' place, as

in Fig. 3. j

By thus constructing my'wheels preventl the parts from being subjected to undue tension, avoid the bending of the rim, and insure the production of a true wheel of great strength and stability. y'

I am aware that wheels having wrought rim and spokes and a cast hub are old, and I make no claim thereon, except when constructed in the manner above described.

As shown in the drawing, the wheels ofthe barrow are secured rigidly upon the ends of the inner end or neck of one axle and the outer end of the other, as shown.

'Ihe blocks are so vconstructed and arranged that, although secured to the inclined bottom of the body, they hold the two shafts parallel with each other, andin the same horizontal plane, so that the barrow has no tendency to run sidewise.

Each shaft is held in its bearings by a collar, b, pinned fast upon it against the inner side of one of the bearing-blocks, as shown, so that, in order to release either axle and permit its removal with its wheel, it is only necessary to drive out the pin holding the collar.

This arrangement permits the ready removal of either wheel and axle Without affecting the other or disturbing the adjustment of the bearings.

Another feature of my barrdlw consists in the arrangement to prevent dust and sand from nding their way into the axle-bearings next to the wheels.

I cast each hub with an inwardly-projectin g ange, c, around its edge, and also provide the f directly into the joint between the hub and bearing, while-the flange d prevents the'same from Working laterally into the joint, the arrangement beingl such that sand, &c., will be directed by the iiange c outside of' or behind the ange d, which will prevent them from Working into the joint.

A considerable space is left between the anges c and d, as shown in the drawing, so that sand or gritty matters cannot be held by the flanges and carried into the bearing, the.

anges serving not to close the joint, but as deectors to prevent foreign matters from falling therein.

By arranging the flanges' in the manner shown I am enabled to cast the parts ready for use without requiring the anges to be finished or fitted up, thus rendering the construction very cheap. The construction is also simplified and cheapened by inserting the axles endwise to theirpplaces and securing them 'by the collars, so that I am enabled to use `bearing-blocks `each in a single solid piece.

Having thus described my invention, what. .Y

1. The hereindescribed barrow, consisting ing the bearings.

PETER L. WEIMER. Witnesses:

J oHN BIRKINBINE, W. G. SANDS. 

